Student performance in Introductory Microeconomics at an African open and distance learning institution

Abstract

Introductory Microeconomics as offered by the University of South Africa (Unisa) is a compulsory module for a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Accountancy or a Bachelor of Administration degree. Success or failure in Introductory Microeconomics directly impacts on the number of years students take to complete their degrees, and eventually also on the throughput subsidy to Unisa.

A number of exceptional institutional rules and regulations impact on the teaching of Introductory Microeconomics at Unisa, as an open and distance learning (ODL) institution. Unlike many residential institutions, Unisa does not require Mathematics at school level for registration for Introductory Microeconomics. This article reports on research done at Unisa to determine how student success in Introductory Microeconomics is influenced by variables such as race, home language, whether the students passed mathematics at matriculation level, matriculation exemption1 1. Matriculation (“matric”): In South Africa, the final school exit certificate, which is awarded with or without university exemption (“endorsement”). , gender and the passing of assignments. Although this research confirms previous research that home language and age do impact on student success, it finds that the successful passing of assignments has the greatest impact on student success.     

Some Critical Reflections On Open Distance Learning,With Particular Reference To Work-Integrated Learning

Abstract

The notion of ‘openness’ in terms like open distance learning (ODL) is sometimes rather carelessly used, for example in the work-integrated learning (WIL) of distance learners (such as the teaching practice of UNISA's education students, where schools and UNISA form a partnership). We indicate that there is very little ‘openness’ in this type of learning, and that ODL and WIL are in fact two irreconcilable concepts. Yet, when WIL is considered in relation to distance education (DE) there is no problem, because DE is a clear and generally understood concept, indicating a particular mode of education provision, within which WIL can be neatly and meaningfully accommodated. We conclude, also on the basis of empirical evidence, that WIL and DE (and not ODL) constitute the proven, established and ideal conceptual frameworks for the design and implementation of inter alia teaching practice (as WIL) in distance teacher training. In closing, we briefly reflect on the implications of our conclusion for institutional identity.     

我国实验室建设与管理研究的文献综述

实验室建设问题受到很多学者的关注,其中国家实验室、国家重点实验室和依托高校建立的普通实验室 三类实验室是学者研究的重点。文章从目标定位、管理运行、信息化建设和开放服务等4 个方面回顾了近年国内学者有 关这三类实验室的文献研究情况,总结目前国内学者的研究侧重点,并对未来的研究方向进行探讨。     

地方高校图书馆对社会开放的现状分析与思考——以九江学院图书馆为例

以九江学院图书馆为例,分析了地方高校图书馆对社会开放的现状,揭示了高校图书馆向社会开放的紧迫性,并提出了一些建议。     

高校图书馆开放存取资源建设现状调查分析——以“985工程”高校图书馆为例

利用网络调查法对我国39所"985工程"高校图书馆开放存取资源建设现状进行调查分析,提出我国高校图书馆开放存取资源建设建议。     

The Contemporary Academic Library Resource Sharing Mission: Fragmentation or Evolution?

Academic interlibrary loan practitioners are experiencing changes that can be characterized as either the fragmentation of the resource sharing mission or its evolution into a new form of service routinely making use of new and diverse sources of information outside the scope of past practices. Among these new sources are curated repositories of open access literature, institutional repositories, digital libraries containing scanned public domain literature, and social media article-sharing networking sites. The incorporation of these sources of information into regular workflows presents interlibrary loan practitioners with many challenges. This paper will discuss ways to address these developments.     

Electronic Reserves on a Budget

Abstract

Reeves Memorial Library serves as the campus library for Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Seton Hill is a small, liberal arts school with approximately 1300 FTE. In the fall of 2002, Reeves Library launched a homegrown electronic reserves service built with a collection of freely available software packages. This paper is a case study of the project. The goal is to provide the reader with a detailed summary of the planning, design and implementation of the project along with workflow issues and digitization techniques.     

Analyzing the Contemporary Czech Literary Web

ABSTRACT

It has become difficult to evaluate and gauge the extent of the ever-expanding Czech literary web. This article focuses on analyzing the current status of the Czech literary web and associated online repositories. For purposes of this article, the author examined twenty open access Czech sites whose subject matter is Czech literature. Out of these twenty websites, the author analyzed five sites in great detail. The data for the analysis was extracted initially in December of 2014.     

An Examination of Coursera as an Information Environment: Does Coursera Fulfill its Mission to Provide Open Education to All?

In terms of international education, the concept of online education seems to be a growing trend. Edxonline.org, Minervaproject.com, and Udacity.com are all new massive online open courses (MOOCs)—education websites similar to Coursera offering students the ability to receive the best education from elite universities entirely online. The most tantalizing promise of a company like Coursera is the role it might play in improving education for the world's have-nots: high school dropouts, the global poor, and those less able to self-teach.     

NISO Open Access Metadata and Indicators Working Group: Creating a Cross-Audience Solution

As open access material becomes more available across the scholarly information space, a need has arisen for creation of special metadata indicating this open access status, and for that metadata to be standard through the supply chain in order to be shared and communicated most effectively among a number of players. The National Information Standards Organization has recently launched a new work item, the Open Access Metadata and Indicators working group, which will specify a standardized set of metadata elements to detail article accessibility and license permissions. By defining how to tie availability permissions to an object useful to humans and machines, the group intends to support improved communication of this information and affect better use of open access material overall.